’s first solo decade began with him in perplexing obscurity, before taking in the renaissance and ending with him re-loved, in Britain at least. He was typically prolific, hence this three-disc cornucopia of B-sides plus the occasional remix and session track. It appeared in 2003, sailed to #22 and disappeared.
Now, it’s been exhumed apropos nothing beyond a first appearance on digital, so, ironically, the extra-tracks collection has no extra tracks. One disc comprises so-so covers, from ( ) to Ben Harper ( ) via assorted soul classics. As the subsequent would confirm, Weller isn’t really meant for covers.
The B-sides, though, are a revelation, whether it’s a heroic live assault on , Portishead’s glorious, dub-tastic remix or the beautiful , so wasted as a B-side. And there’s , the swirling TV theme that never was: “We played this live once, in New Orleans at the famous Tipitina’s, the home of funk,” Weller remembers in the sleeve-notes. “And they hated it.
Fair enough.” These seeming cast-offs show Weller free of constraint, revelling in the luxury of being able to sidestep commercial restrictions. Certainly his labels at the time knew what they wanted, and it wasn’t the feast of distortion that is , but they understood, too, the value of indulging their asset.
Big picture-wise, Go! Discs and Island knew best, but, overwhelmingly, what’s here is a treat. Everyone wins. As well as Classic Rock, John Aizlewood currently writes for The Times, The Radio.